Skip to main content

Will This Nootropic from HVMN Get You Into Ketosis Faster?

HVMN
Image used with permission by copyright holder

It takes a solid two to four days of eating low carbohydrates (<50 grams) for the body to enter ketosis; aka, about two pieces of bread. For some, this torturous process of eating almost no carbs or sugar (*quietly crying) may take a week of dedication for the body to enter the super-fat-burning state coveted by keto lovers. Then, you have to workout in a fasted, low-energy state to get the most from your efforts. It’s a lot of work, but nootropics brand HVMN may be the answer to shortening that timeline.

Recommended Videos

No matter how you serve it, entering ketosis isn’t easy. Which is why HVMN — a supplements brand made for people “obsessed with ascending to the top of your field,” — released a 25 gram vial of “liquid ketosis.” It’s called the Ketone Ester and was designed for consumption before, during, or after a workout (fasted or not).

Dubbed “deep ketosis in a bottle,” Ketone Ester is completely ketogenic, FDA and WADA compliant, with no caffeine, sugar, salt, or fat. So… what’s in the drink?

Unfortunately, that’s a secret protected by patents. We can say that Ketone Ester was developed by Oxford and NIH scientists as part of the DARPA Metabolic Dominance Program and raises blood ketone levels to 3-5 millimolars (mM) in only 30 minutes. The crazy part is that the drink does this with zero salt, acid, or fat.

Awesome news for anyone on the keto diet, especially dudes who struggle to enter ketosis at all — usually a flub caused by sneaking carbs, not eating enough fat, or consuming too much protein.

(Still not exactly sure what the keto diet is? Here are the down and dirty basics of a keto diet and how to do it successfully.)

Image used with permission by copyright holder

HVMN says, however, you don’t have to be on a keto diet for this magic liquid to work. The supplement burns both ketones and carbohydrates to “obtain metabolic benefits of ketosis without a ketogenic diet.” If this is true (at $33 a shot it better be), then guys hoping to reap the benefits of ketosis without fasting can reach that threshold during workouts … then grub down on carbonara for dinner, worry-free.

Obviously, adding Ketone Ester to an existing keto diet would give you a leg up on possibly enhancing physical and cognitive output during fasted workouts, when energy is already low and all you want to do is binge pickle chips and sleep. The nootropic by HVMN means an easier and more efficient switch from using glucose as fuel to ketones (sugar vs fat, basically).

HVMN promises its shot will do more than that, also accelerating muscle protein, reducing lactic acid production (by friggin’ 50%), and increasing overall endurance.

This literally sounds too good to be true, which begs the question: are new age supplements pouring out hyperbolae or engineering truly modern and new nutrition alternatives? HVMN’s ketosis liquid is backed by scientific study, has a butt load of ketosis science info to help us understand WTF a ketone is, and tons of five-star testimonials.

Overall, users say Ketone Ester was great for helping sustain energy during a workout done following a fasting period,  aka, the time when your body is primed to burn a ton of fat. Price, however, was a significant deterrent, considering you get three vials for $99. On a sustained ketosis diet, you won’t be paying as much although it takes longer to enter ketosis. Then again, it doesn’t sound healthy to rely on this nootropic every day while eating whatever you want.

The taste may save many dudes from beer-bonging Ketone Ester. It was reportedly awful.

Since ketoisis is such a body-by-body process, it’s worth testing a nootropic (backed by scientific study) that can boost the effort you’re already putting in. If the taste is that bad, don’t feel guilty washing it down with a big bowl of pasta.

Jahla Seppanen
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Born and raised off-the-grid in New Mexico, Jahla Seppanen is currently a sports, fitness, spirits, and culture writer in…
Just in time for Cinco de Mayo, Woodinville is releasing a tequila barrel-finished bourbon
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Woodinville's newest expression
Woodinville

Washington State's Woodinville has the perfect whiskey if you love tequila and bourbon. Just in time for Cinco de Mayo, the award-winning distillery is launching Tequila Finish Woodinville Flagship Bourbon.
Tequila Finish Woodinville Flagship Bourbon

Releasing this weekend, Tequila Finish Woodinville Flagship Bourbon is a limited-edition experimental whiskey that you'll want to add to your Cinco de Mayo table. Like all of Woodinville's whiskeys, this limited-release offering takes a bit of a journey. First, the grains are grown at the Omlin family farm in Quincy, Washington. The grains are trucked over the Cascade Mountains to the distillery in Woodinville. The new-make whiskey distilled there is sent back over the mountains and added to new American oak barrels seasoned by the elements for 18-24 months.

Read more
Here’s how I built my own box of personalized iced coffees with Frazy Bottles
Customize your iced coffee
Frazy Bottles

There's something extra fun about personalizing anything -- but especially your coffee. Perhaps this is why Starbucks fans love the detailed mobile ordering system that allows you to customize every component of your order. Similarly, Frazy Bottles enables coffee drinkers to customize every aspect of their coffee concentrate box when placing a personalized order. Building a box with Frazy Bottles made me feel like a kid in a candy store. From selecting my preferred sweetness level to fine-tuning how much caffeine is in each bottle, the whole experience is fun. Here's how I built my own personalized box of iced coffees with Frazy Bottles.
Personalizing your iced coffee

The Frazy Bottle ordering process is pretty simple. First, choose your box size: 6, 12, or 18 bottle packs. I chose the six pack to start with (just to see how I liked it). It's worth noting that the brand also has Boba tea options, but I only tried their coffee selections. After selecting your box size, you'll then move to a page to choose which flavors you'd like in your box. This is where things got especially interesting as I noticed cool and unique coffee flavors such as the Red Velvet Latte and Chocolate Chip Latte. I haven't had a chance to try all the flavors, but of the ones I did try, the Pumpkin Spice Latte was my favorite (you don't need to wait until fall for this).

Read more
These unexpected menu items at Komodo Las Vegas made my meal memorable
From appetizers to dessert, expect to be impressed
Komodo Las Vegas

The difference between a good meal and a memorable meal goes beyond just great food. You can find great food anywhere and especially when visiting Las Vegas. Yet, the most memorable meals of my life have more than just stellar food. Memorable meals have an element of surprise or experience to them. At Komodo Las Vegas, unexpected menu items turned the dining experience unforgettable.

The menu is full of choices that go beyond what you'd see at a typical Southeast Asian restaurant, transforming a meal into a complete dining experience. From the Matcha Martini to the Surf & Turf Maki Roll, these unexpected menu items at Komodo Las Vegas surprised me in the best way possible.

Read more